STX Amateur Golf Tour

Conduct & Rules

Competitors and caddies must observe proper golf etiquette at all times. Violations including verbal or physical abuse, obscene language, property damage, or being under the influence will result in disqualification from the current event and possible rejection from future events.

Defacing STX Am Tour property or marketing materials results in disqualification from the current event plus a mandatory two-event suspension.

The STX Am Tour follows all USGA and R&A rules. The committee may enact local rules only as permitted under the rules of golf.

The STX Am Tour does not allow the 2019 local rule for fairway drops. Out-of-bounds balls must be re-hit from the original position with a stroke-and-distance penalty.

Committee members are printed on each event's rules sheet. PGA Professional Travis Salkowski chairs the committee; the STX Am Tour Director and Ambassadors comprise the committee at each event.

By participating, all golfers grant the STX Am Tour the right to use images for marketing, advertising, social media, the website, and the podcast. Written notice is required if you wish to decline photography.

Scoring & Flights

Scorecard playoffs use handicap holes sequentially.
Gross scores break gross ties; net scores break net ties.
Two-day events use second-round scores for tie-breaking.
Scorecard playoffs are excluded for major championship and tour championship qualifying spots.

Flights are based on total signup numbers. The tour attempts to flight 20–25 golfers before splitting into additional flights. Golfers are ordered lowest-to-highest handicap and then divided evenly.

The STX Am Tour uses four proprietary tour markers — Black, Blue, Green, and White — each with varying course ratings. Your tee assignment varies by event and flight and will be communicated in the "Notice to Players" email.

Golfers become eligible for the Senior category at age 50. Seniors play reduced yardage tees (approximately 8% shorter) within their respective flights.

The top 50 golfers on the season points list are invited to the season-ending playoffs.

Optional skins are available at the starters tent before teeing off. The format varies depending on the event style and tournament format.

Real-time notifications are sent via email and Facebook.
9 holes minimum constitutes a completed event.
Any flight not completing 9 holes receives full STX Am Tour credit.
All golfers and teams must complete the same hole count (9, 12, or 15).
All golfers remain registered for any rescheduled dates.

Handicaps

The tour uses a proprietary formula based on tournament scores only (two years plus the current season), creating a "tour-only index" converted to a course handicap per location. This index is not transferable to USGA or other governing bodies.

The playing handicap cannot exceed 36. For female golfers, the maximum is 40.

The tour uses 80% of your unverified index or average score. You need two recorded scores to be eligible for NET prizes. Your first score plus the 80% calculation will be used for your second event.

Submit your average score and the tour will assign a temporary handicap until two STX Am Tour scores are recorded.

Registration & Payment

Tee times and pairings are released Thursday before Saturday events and Friday before Sunday events, via email and Facebook. Earlier release is possible if the event sells out.

Your tee time will arrive via your signup confirmation email. You can also check Facebook. If you are missing from the posted sheets, contact Travis Salkowski at [email protected].

Register manually by emailing Travis Salkowski at [email protected]. Allow up to 2 business days for confirmation. No confirmation means no signup.

Post on Facebook or email the tour to be added to the "Needs Partner" list. Include your handicap and an acceptable partner range. Never register with blank partner fields.

Winners should remain at the course until their flight is complete. Unclaimed prizes are held for 30 days and can be retrieved via pickup at a future event, USPS mail, or member account credit. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes are donated to the South Texas Match Play Challenge Team.

Arrive at least 10 minutes before your tee time. Late arrivals will be stroked per the rules of golf and then disqualified. To-Pay golfers should allow an additional 10 minutes for check-in at the starters area.

Withdrawals & Credits

More than 3 weeks out: 95% refund or current-season credit.
Within 3 weeks: 90% refund or credit (tour discretion).
After first pairing announcement: 75% refund or petition for credit (tour discretion).
After second pairing announcement or no-show: No refund or credit.

Weather note: No refunds or credits are issued for perceived bad weather.

Credits must be used within the same calendar year. To apply a credit, register by emailing [email protected] and wait for a confirmation reply before considering yourself registered.

To-Pay List Classifications

No event fees owed.
Two strikes allowed per calendar year.
A third strike forfeits credit status and all privileges.
Withdrawal penalties increase with each pairing notice issued.

Discounted fees paid day-of-event.
Two strikes allowed per calendar year.
A third strike forfeits the discount and all privileges.
Post-pairing withdrawals are assessed full (non-discounted) fees.

Discounted fees paid day-of-event.
Two strikes allowed per calendar year.
A third strike forfeits the discount and all privileges.
Post-pairing withdrawals are assessed full (non-discounted) fees.

Paying at the event is a privilege, not a right.
One strike allowed per calendar year.
A second strike forfeits all privileges.
A 3.5% credit card fee applies at the starters tent — avoid it by prepaying online.
Cash payment avoids all fees.

South Texas Match Play Challenge (STMPC)

The South Texas Match Play Challenge is an annual Ryder Cup-style event between the STX Am Tour and the Houston Am Golf Association. Each team consists of 16 members. The regular season generates 6 players; the playoffs generate the remaining 10.

The 16-team structure is: Top 3 from Spring/Summer, Top 7 from the Tour Championship, one wildcard, the horserace winner, and a sponsor selection.

Ties for third place eliminate the wildcard spot.
Dual ties eliminate both the wildcard and the seventh championship spot.